When pharmacist Paul Vande Vyvere closed his business in Hoogstraat in Bruges in 1975, the museum was fortunate to be able to buy part of its contents. The interior of the pharmacy, which had been created in Empire style three generations earlier by his grandfather Richard around 1863, was still almost completely intact.
In those days, pharmacists would make up prescribed medications themselves and also sell their own preparations. Ingredients were kept in glass and glazed ceramic jars. And, as you will notice, he also possessed quite a few other apothecary jars.
The mortar in front of the display cabinet appears to be little used. The distillation apparatus in the small room to the right of the pharmacy or officina, on the other hand, is well-used. The pharmacist would mainly focus on using plant and herb extracts, drying medicinal plants and distilling and processing plant extracts.
He would use a copper distillation apparatus to separate the medicinal elements, often essential or volatile oils from plants, from parts that could not be used. This usually involved steam distillation, i.e. passing steam through plant components that needed to be processed. The essential oil evaporates together with the steam and, when cooled, it can simply be separated from the water. Even today essential oils are used as a remedy for various ailments.
In the 19th and early 20th century, pharmacists would give medical advice to people who could not afford to pay for a doctor. Their knowledge of natural remedies and simple physics came in handy for this.
The pharmaceutical industry didn’t really take off until after the Second World War. Gradually the demand for own preparations was overtaken by pre-packed pills, which became increasingly popular.
Several pharmacies in the centre of Bruges still have an authentic interior, including apothecary jars and glass recipients. Obviously they now mostly sell the well-known packages supplied by large pharmaceutical giants.
Are you interested in old apothecaries? If so, a visit to the medieval Sint-Janshospitaal (Hospital of St. John) in Bruges is a must. Its Hospital Museum includes an even older officina.